Tag:service=emergency_access

service =
Description
A way that is an emergency access road.
Group: restrictions
Used on these elements
Requires
highway=service
Useful combination
emergency=designated surface=*
Status: de facto
service=emergency_access $1% $1% $1% $1% More details at taginfo
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A way for emergency access, such as for firefighters to reach a building, for ambulances to shortcut through a roundabout, or for a police turnaround on a motorway.

When to use

The tag combination highway=service + service= is used only for service roads that are an emergency access roads, for example:

• A police turnaround on a motorway.
• A shortcut through a roundabout for ambulances only.
• An access road to the back of a gated residential complex that is used only by emergency responders as a shortcut.

Do not use service= if other tags are more descriptive, for example:

• If it could be better described as something other than a service road, such as a path or footway, use highway=path, highway=footway, etc.
• A driveway to a fire station or emergency ward should be tagged highway=service + service=driveway + emergency=designated.
• A driveway to a (private) residential complex which is also an emergency access should be tagged highway=service + service=driveway + access=private + emergency=designated.

In these cases, add emergency=designated to indicate that it is intended for use by emergency services. Also add access=no or access=private if other usage is prohibited. This information is especially important for routers. For example, routers have been known to suggest illegal U-turns at emergency crossovers along motorways in the absence of these access tags.

If the way is not built as a highway of any kind, consider fire_path=yes. See Fire Path for examples.

How to map

Add service= to a way that already has the highway=service tag. Consider adding access permissions to the highway, such as access=no and emergency=designated, in case a data consumer understands access tags but not service=.

Other highway-related keys such as surface=* may be useful as well.

Examples

• 
  Signs for an emergency crossover in the median of a motorway in Canada:
  highway=service
service=
access=no
emergency=designated
• 
  Emergency crossover in the median of a freeway in the United States:
  highway=service
service=
access=no
emergency=designated
• 
  In the United States, service= roads are often signposted with this "Authorized Vehicles Only" sign. However, the same sign can appear on roads that are more appropriately tagged with other service=* values along with access=no emergency=designated.
• 
  Driveway to a fire station in the United States (which does not lead to a parking lot):
  highway=service
service=driveway
access=no
emergency=designated
• 
  Parking aisle for police cars at a police station in the United States:
  highway=service
service=parking_aisle
access=no
emergency=designated

See also

• emergency=designated
• Proposed_features/emergency_vehicle_access
• Fire Path